Vehicle-axle



(No Model.)

S. T. GAVETT.

VEHICLE AXLE No. 296,523. fl Patented Apr, 8, 1884.

II II N. PiTERS. Pheiol-iihzgnplnr. wmm eon. n. c.

U'Nrrnn STATES PATEN'ij rricn,

SAll'IUEL T. CAVETT, OF EVAXSVILLE, lNDLiNA.

VEHICLE-AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,523, dated April 8, 1884. Application filed September 13, 1883. (No modem f0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, SAMUEL TJOAvETT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Evansville, in the county of Vanderburg and State of Indiana, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Axle- Trees 5 and I do hereby declare the following to beafull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to inalreand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of vehiole-axles which are composed of two sections which revolve and have the wheels permanently fined thereto; and it also relates to the bearings for such axles. The objects of the invention are to construct axles of this class in such manner as to secure a light draft, to combine durability and simplicity of construction with efficiency of operation, to enable a vehiole to be adjusted to either wide or narrow gage, and to enable the hearings to be lubricated without taking off the wheels or lifting the axles.

The invention consists in certain novel c'onstructions and combinations of devices, which will be fully understood from the following particular description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in rear elevation of an axle constructed and mounted in bearings attached to a bolster, according to .my invention. Fig. 2 is a section of the'coupling-box and sleeve with portionslof the axle. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the axleboxes. Fig. 4: is a View of the aXle-sectionsyand Fig. 5 is a front view of one of the axle-boxes.

The letter A indicates a bolster, having axlebea-ring boxesJK 33, secured to its opposite ends by clips 0 c c c.

D and D are two sections of a revolving axle, having intermediate j ournals, d d, on each side of which are screw-threads, with which are engaged adjustable shoulder-bands c c. On the outer end of eaclr axle-section is a spindle, 1, having a screw-threaded tip to receive a nut. the wheels are to be placed and firmly clamped between the nuts and the outer shoulder- On these spindles the hubs of band's, these outer shoulder-bands being adjustable, as also are the inner bands. The intermediate journals are to be placed in the bearing-boxes. The inner end of the axle-section 1) is screw-threaded and screwed into a cylindrical coupling-box, F, which is screwthreaded for only a part of its length, the other portion being smooth, to receive loosely the smooth inner end or journal of the other axle-section, I). In the smooth portion of the coupling-box is formed a slot, 8, to admit oil or other lubricating material, and over the coupling-box fits a sleeve, S, which also has a slot, 8, for the passage of lubricating material. The sleeve is secured to the box by a set-screw, t. The sleeve is normally turned to such a position that the slots s and s will not be in line, and the slot 5- in the coupling-box is thus closed by the sleeve; but when it is desired to lubricate the box and inner end journal of the axle-section D, the sleeve is released by loosening the set screw and turned to bring the two slots in line, so that the lubricating ma terial may be passed through them both, after which the sleeve is turned and secured in position to close the slot 8 and prevent the lubricating material from escaping. The couplingbox F being adj ustable, and the shoulderbands of the axle-sections being also adjusta- 'ble, it is obvious that the complete axle may be adjusted to give the vehicle a wider or narrower gage, as desired. Below the bolster are brace eyes or loops through which the axlesections pass on each side of the coupling-box. These brace eyes or loops being formed on the ends of bolts which are passedthrough the bolster and secured by nuts, they serve to.

counteract the leverage of the axle-sections, which might otherwise dcleteriously strain the bearingboxes when a vehicle is heavily loaded.

By reference to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the bearing-box B has a rear aperture, 1), formed by notches cut in the edges of its up per and lower bearing-pieces. This aperture is for the purpose of admitting lubricating material, and above it is hinged a grease-cup, G, which is adapted to be moved down and cover it, and contain a supply of lubricating material, which will thus be gradually fed into the box and to the intermediate journal of the axle-section. The cup is provided on its upper edge with perforated lugs g, which fit between two perforated-ears projecting from the upper bearing-piece, so that the cup may be held closed by a suitable pin passing through said ears and lug.

By means of the aperture Z) and the greaseoup G, I am able to keep my axle-bearings c011- stantly lubricated, and there is never any necessity for removing the wheels or axle-sections for lubricating purposes.

Having now fully described my invention, I wish it to be understood that it may be ap-- plied to all kinds of wheeled vehicles, and either as arear or forward axle; and, further, that I reserve to myself the right to make such alterations in the various parts as may contribute to the more eflicient carrying out of my invention, while not departing from the essential principle thereof.

\Vhat I claim is 1. The combination, with the two axle-sections, of the coupling-box, secured to the inner end of'one of said sections, and receiving the inner end of the other section loosely, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the two axle-sections and the coupling-box fixed to the inner end of one section and receiving the inner end of the other section loosely, and provided with the lubricating slot or opening, of the adj ustable sleeve fitting upon said coupling-box and provided with a lubricating-slot, and means for holding and releasing said sleeve, to permit the rotation of the same, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the bolster and bearing-boxes secured thereto, of the two axlesections, provided with intermediate journals,

arranged in said bearing-boxes, suspended in loops depending from the bolster, andhaving their inner ends loosely coupled to revolve independently of each other, substantially as described.

'4. The combination, with the bolster, its lubricating bearing-boxes, and the looselycoupled axle -sections, having intermediate journals in said bearing-boxes, of the brace eyes or loops secured to the bolster and em-- bracing the'inner portions of the axle-sections, respectively, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, withthe bearing-boxes. having apertures, as described, of the hinged grease-caps, adapted'to cover saidapertures, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL T. CAVETT; Witnesses:

WM. REAVIS, PH. NoUwEILER. 

